Follow Jesus

Become a Christian

Whatever you may believe about Jesus, there is one truth that we want you to know. He loves you! He loves you so much that He came to earth and gave His life so you could have a personal relationship with Him and God.

 

We are all separated from God because of Adam’s disobedience and Jesus is the only way back. In John 14:6, Jesus said,“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you really know Me, you will know my Father as well.”

 

It doesn’t matter who you are, what you’ve done, or where you came from, this gift is for you. Everyone is important. Everyone is included. Everyone is invited. You are no exception. Jesus loves you!

 

Here’s what the Bible says:

Romans 3:23 says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

 

Romans 6:23 says, “for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 

Romans 5:8-10 says, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him. For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”

 

Romans 10:8-10 says, “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

 

That’s it. Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. Believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead.  Do that and you are a Christian! Your sins are forgiven and your relationship with God begins!

 

Some people think, “I have to clean my life up first – and be a better person.” That’s wrong. You don’t change to receive God’s love – you change because you experience His love.

 

When you accept His gift, your heart changes. And as you start walking in your relationship with Him, His love will change your life more and more with time. The Bible says, we can’t be saved BY good works but we are saved TO good works.

 

Jesus took all our wrong, made a sacrifice that would pay the price, and offers us His righteousness – we just have to accept it. If we believe that and commit to following Him daily, life will never be the same. Believing in Jesus is just the beginning of the greatest adventure you could ever imagine.

 

Have you accepted His gift and trusted Him with your life?

We’d love for you to let us know here.

 

Read the Bible and Pray

Relationships are built on communication. It’s impossible to be close to someone you never talk to. The Bible is God’s Word and it is the principal way that He speaks to us. It is the best way to learn about Him and discover how to follow Jesus on a daily basis.

 

Communication goes both ways so you should talk to God too. Prayer isn’t hard and there’s no special formula. Just talk to Him like you would a friend sitting right in front of you. He knows everything already, but He wants to hear what’s on your mind and how you feel on a regular basis.

 

You can download the YouVersion Bible App for free on your phone or tablet. And stop by the Next Steps desk on Sunday and we will give you a free hard copy of the Bible.

 

Start reading the Gospel of John at least 15 minutes a day. Then be still for a few minutes and just think about what you read. That gives God a chance to bring something to your mind that He really wants you to know.

 

And don’t forget to talk to Him every day, throughout the day!

 

Be Baptized

Baptism is something Christians have been doing for thousands of years as a testimony of their faith in Jesus. Baptism is not salvation – it is a public declaration that a person has started following Jesus.

 

We encourage everyone who accepts salvation to be baptized. Invite your friends and family and celebrate what it means. Even if you were baptized before, as an infant or years ago, we’ll baptize you again if you want to mark what has happened in your life.

 

To find out how to be baptized at Crossroads, go here.

 

Connect with a Local Church

Community is essential for life in general but also for your Christian walk. The Bible instructs us to help one another on our journey. The local church is a place to find friends and build relationships.

 

The church is also a place where we can learn and grow in our relationship with Jesus. It is a place where we can worship and prepare for the week ahead. It is a place for us to bring our friends and family to learn about Jesus. It’s a place where we can develop our talents and participate in ministry. And it’s a place to contribute financially to share the gospel with the world.

 

We would love for you to join us at Crossroads and make this your home. But even if this is not the place – you need to connect with a local church. Find a place where they believe the Bible and are on mission with God.